Specimen Container Well Design for Visual Fluid Level Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing specimen containers lack a simple and effective method for visually determining the amount of culture fluid in each well, making it difficult to assess fluid levels and accurately add or exchange fluid, which can lead to inefficient workflows and potential cell damage.
Innovation Solution
The specimen container features a well design with a changing cross-sectional shape in response to fluid depth, allowing for visual assessment of fluid levels from above and incorporating rising parts that serve as positional references for tools, enhancing operational accuracy and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a conventional well design with simple cross-section is used, then the container structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it is difficult to visually determine the fluid amount from above
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses changes in the visual appearance of the fluid meniscus at the opening plane to indicate fluid amount. By observing the shape and position of the meniscus from above, one can determine whether the fluid level is appropriate, insufficient, or excessive without needing complex measurement devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from side-observation (traditional method) to top-down observation by designing the well opening plane to display fluid level information in a two-dimensional view from above. This allows operators to assess fluid amounts by looking at the meniscus shape and position at the opening plane rather than requiring side viewing.
2Ease of operation
If fluid amount is determined by side observation, then the measurement method is simple, but it is particularly difficult in wells with large number arranged in matrix
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the opening plane into different regions that correspond to different fluid amount states (appropriate, insufficient, excessive). Each region can be visually identified from above, allowing rapid assessment of multiple wells in a matrix format without requiring detailed side observation of each well.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual determination of tool tip position is used, then the operation method is simple, but it is time-consuming and may damage cultured cells
Solution Approach 1:
The well structure itself provides the positioning function through its geometric features. The opening plane and internal space configuration automatically indicate the correct insertion depth and position for the pouring tool, eliminating the need for complex positioning systems or careful manual adjustment by the operator.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2(a)~2(f)
Figure 3(a)~3(f)
AI summary
A specimen container(10) includes a body(11) to which a well(W) having an opening(111) at an upper end and capable of storing a fluid in internal space is disposed. An opening plane, a first cross section and a second cross section have outer peripheral shapes dissimilar to each other and in a plan view, the second cross section is contained in the first cross section and the first cross section is contained in the opening plane. Here, the opening plane, the first cross section and the second cross section are defined in a horizontal posture of the body(11) as follows. The opening plane is a projected plane of the opening of the well(W) on a horizontal plane. The first cross section is a horizontal cross section of the internal space taken at a position corresponding to a predetermined first depth defined vertically downwardly from the opening. Further; the second cross section is a horizontal cross section of the internal space taken at a position corresponding to a second depth greater than the first depth.